Mazda Furai Concept

The 5th iteration of Mazda's new design language.

Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca€" – this venue seems slightly atypical for unveiling a concept vehicle, but then again we had dinner the night before with the Manager of MazdaSpeed Engineering — Technology, Tod Kaneko. Kaneko was coy over the details but did offer that this was the first collaboration between the MazdaSpeed team and concept vehicle designers.

Furai, simply translated to English, means "Sound of the wind" and is the 5th iteration or evolution of 's new design language personified in their initial Nagare concept, which you may recall to mean "Flow." For some including myself who aren't fluent in design language, the Furai fortunately speaks in a universal tongue that is loud and clear. Far from just a piece of art work on wheels, this working concept actually began life as one of Mazda's 2006-season ALMS P2 racecars.

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Built on a Courage C65 chassis and powered by a 450-bhp three-rotor rotary engine, this ethanol (E100) powered concept car is an exercise in reverse homologation and represents an ideal within the Mazda philosophy, and that is to bridge the gap between single-purpose racecars (ALMS) and street-legal models ( Enzo, Lotus Elise) according to Mazda's Director of Design, Franz von Holzhausen.

The complex outer shell of the Furai clearly follows its predecessor's design trends, but through the guidance and expertise of Swift Engineering also functions aerodynamically as well. Front-fascia channels direct air to the brake ducts as strategically placed louvers on top of the front wheel fenders aid heat evacuation and help suck the front end closer to the ground. Its sculpted flanks create turbulence which draws air to the side ducts that help keep the engine cool in conjunction with the radiators mounted in the car's side-pods. Aft of the gull-wing doors, flow-directing details continue to guide air traveling over the car's rear haunches towards a large, functioning, adjustable-element spoiler. The sharp element you see protruding from the roof is called an Air Fang, and was designed by the guys at Swift Engineering to optimize ram air induction using clean air. As dirty debris-heavy air flows over the car, the stream is split by the Air Fang creating little vortices which force surrounding clean air down into the intake. The result is a pressurizing effect on par with a snorkel or NACA duct, but with cleaner air.

Unfortunately due to embargo restrictions, we are only allowed to show you this one image of Mazda's latest concept creation which is set to make its North American debut in January at the Detroit Auto Show. But be sure to check out the March issue of Road & Track where we share more in-depth details of this intriguing concept and take you inside the car for some hot laps with professional ALMS driver Jamie Bach.